Goosetown Tavern upgrades its beer list, revamps the menu

The Goosetown Tavern -- the old dog in Colfax Avenue's revitalized Bluebird district -- is learning some new trick, thanks to a change in chef and an updated its beer list.

Eight-year employee Kim Dean has taken over the reins as manager, and she brought in chef Dan Cole, formerly of the Wynkoop Brewing Company, to revamp the menu.

Both the Wynkoop and Goosetown are owned by Wynkoop Holdings, Inc.

"Over the years, we've gotten away from the original concept: Good grub at a pizza place that isn't bar food," Dean says. Cole's job will be to make sure the pizzas, salads and fresh-made soups are up to par.

As for the beer list, Goosetown will add the Wynkoop's Mile HiPA, Avery Brewing's Salvation and Great Divide Hercules Double IPA, and replace "a number of mainstream and budget beers" with craft beers, including Ommegang's Hennepin, Schmaltz Brewing's Hebrew, Stone Brewing's Arrogant Bastard and Great Divide's Hoss Rye Lager, according to Wynkoop spokesman Marty Jones.

"The Goose is a wonderful place with a great vibe and food, and we want the beer list to climb a few rungs higher to match up," Jones says. "Denver has a Grade-A beer-making scene, but it needs improvement. So we're doing our part to make it happen.

Goosetown has begun hosting Meet the Brewery nights; the third one is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, with Great Divide. Dean says the evenings can be as simple as knocking a buck off the price of a beer or as complicated as a tasting of several of a particular brewery's beers.

"We want to get everyone attuned to trying out new beers here," Dean adds. "It's something that this neighborhood hasn't really done."